New Scottish EV consortium announced

Electric vehicle charging specialist Voltempo is leading a new consortium, SCALE – Scotland Charging to Accelerate Logistics Electrification – which it says aims to cut the 12.8 per cent of national CO2 emissions in Scotland generated by HGV fleets.

Supported by Transport Scotland via its £2 million HGV Market Readiness Fund, the SCALE consortium comprises Scottish hauliers and logistics partners committed to accelerating the shift to electric HGVs.

SCALE will see firms such as Creel Maritime, drawing on its Net Zero Timhaul partnership with Scotlog, and James Jones & Sons, join a wider group of carriers preparing to introduce new electric vehicles into service.

The consortium will deploy electric HGVs from a number of vehicle manufacturers ranging from 7.5 tonnes up to 44 tonnes, the aim being to test and prove their capability in a range of demanding real-world applications across Scotland – such as critical pharmaceutical movements, food distribution and the next-day delivery of parcels to remote communities.

To facilitate SCALE’s approach, a community-owned charging network will be created, with emphasis expected on shared charging hubs that would support both large and small fleet operators. Financial support packages will also be made available, in particular for smaller businesses.

The consortium will be coordinated by Voltempo – which is also the project lead on the UK-wide eFreight 2030 consortium – from a new office in Glasgow, which is situated near two Voltempo HyperCharger sites slated to be opened next year.

Michael Boxwell, founder of Voltempo, said: “Scotland has the vision, and now the opportunity, to accelerate the transition to zero-emission freight and we are delighted to be leading SCALE, a consortium specifically designed to give hauliers the confidence, the infrastructure and the support they need to make the switch to electric.

“By working together, we can build a national charging ecosystem that works for every operator, from major fleets to the smallest rural haulier, and that allows Scotland to meet its ambitious freight decarbonisation targets.”

The SCALE proposal is set to be reviewed by Transport Scotland early next year. If approved, rollout will begin later in 2026.